[Reader Submission] 'Byeongcheonsa Chunghon' Our Village History Made Together by Us

Kim Yongseop, Chairman of the Resident Autonomy Committee of Geumho 1-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju

“History is always rewritten anew, and therefore all history is the history of the present,” said historian Karl Becker. I interpret this phrase to mean that history and cultural heritage can hold true significance only when we carefully nurture the legacy given to us and make it relevant to today.

Places imbued with history offer many possibilities to those of us living in the present. First, by inheriting and developing cultural heritage, the identity of a particular group is enhanced, and the sense of belonging among its members is also strengthened. Furthermore, by discovering and maintaining historical resources, stories accumulate in the region, adding new charm. In today’s world where spaces are commercialized, this can lay an important foundation for regional development.

In our Kumho 1-dong, there is a cultural heritage site that is not yet widely known. It is Byeongcheonsa, a seowon (Confucian academy) established in 1924 during the harsh Japanese colonial period by teacher Ji Eung-hyeon to revive the spirit of the nation.

Located at the foot of Baekseoksan Mountain, this place quietly hides its serene presence amidst a forest of apartment buildings. Beyond Yeongjeonggak, which enshrines the spirit tablets of five loyal subjects including the late Goryeo loyalist Jeong Mong-ju, there are Dongjae and Seojae, dormitories for Confucian scholars. Below them is Jonsimdang, the lecture hall. Among these historically significant spaces, Jonsimdang has been recognized for its preservation value and designated as Gwangju Tangible Cultural Property No. 11.

Since its establishment, Byeongcheonsa has honored the loyal spirits for the country and has strived to nurture many local talents. In fact, many past examinees stayed in the Dongjae and Seojae dormitories while pursuing their dreams.

As time has passed, the space is no longer open to the public regularly. Instead, on the 13th day of the third lunar month each year, the Gwangju Hyanggyo Confucian scholars jointly hold a memorial service to honor the loyal spirits, continuing the tradition. It is also used as an outdoor wedding venue for newlyweds and is opened to the public during traditional music performances held regularly.

It is rare nationwide to have such a historically rich place within an urban residential complex. The Kumho 1-dong Residents’ Autonomous Committee aims to imbue this place with the unique character of our village and bring it back to all of us today.

First, through Byeongcheonsa, we plan to develop educational programs that share the value of loyal spirits, creating a foundation for the village’s students, children, and all residents to carry on that spirit. Additionally, we will explore and promote various projects that can be linked with our neighborhood’s food alley, so that this historically significant site can be returned to the village residents and visitors.

Now is the era when customized services considering diverse individual tastes are provided. I believe that preparing to offer unique spatial experiences that blend small stories and the village’s distinctiveness is what we must do for tailored services.

To this end, the existing method of cultural heritage discovery and maintenance, which was uniformly conducted centered on administrative agencies, must evolve into a resident-centered, individualized approach.

The Kumho 1-dong Residents’ Autonomous Committee hopes to make Byeongcheonsa, our village’s heritage, a place nurtured by the residents themselves, layering our own small stories onto its history and tradition to provide visitors with a unique experience. Through this, we aim to build a new history for our neighborhood and create the loyal spirits of Byeongcheonsa as a precious resource and part of our village’s history, so that it can be well passed on to our next generation.